New Species 03 Valiant (15 page)

cars, and an ambulance were among them. More cars

were parked on the grass next to the pavement, including

a large white van with lettering on the side. The voices

suddenly stopped in the area lit by car headlights.

Tammy knew they’d been spotted as a hush settled.

Sheriff Cooper ran toward them with one of his

deputies, Carl Bell, right on his heels. “Tammy!”

She forced a brave smile. “I’m fine. Valiant and his

friends saved me.”

The sheriff hesitated a few feet from the much taller

and bigger New Species holding her. He glanced

nervously between Tammy and Valiant. “You can hand

her to me, son.” Greg Cooper held out his arms.

Valiant shook his head. “I’ll take her to the

ambulance. She’s been hurt.”

“Where are the men who took her?” The sheriff’s

gaze searched the dark woods behind them.

Valiant shrugged. “It isn’t my problem. The only

thing I care about is Tammy. I’m sure my people will

bring her attackers to you if there’s anything left of

them.” He stepped around the stunned sheriff and deputy

to take Tammy to get medical attention.

Tammy wanted to flinch when she peered over

Valiant’s shoulder as he strode away from the duo.

Sheriff Cooper stared at the woods for a few seconds

more before he turned. She didn’t miss the curious

glance that passed between him and his deputy, who

shrugged. Both men quickly jogged to catch up to them.

Tammy knew both people waiting by the ambulance.

She’d gone to high school with Bart Homer and he grimly

watched as Valiant gently eased Tammy down onto a

gurney he’d yanked out as they approached. Debra

Molmes, the other paramedic, was a woman a few years

younger than Tammy but she’d gone to school with her

older brother.

“Shit.” Debra gawked at Valiant and swallowed hard,

a look of wariness crossing her features. She tore her

gaze from him and visually examined Tammy. Debra

flinched. “Jesus. You’re a mess, Tam.”

“It’s been a rough night for me and I’m sure I’m not

looking my best.”

“Uh, excuse me, sir,” Bart said softly to Valiant. “I,

uh, need in there to help examine Tam.”

Valiant hesitated a second before stepping out of the

way. A bare-chested, huge, buff Valiant was something

to behold. He appeared massively masculine in a sexy

way when he wasn’t growling and showing off his sharp

teeth in a silent snarl. Tammy met his gaze with a forced

smile. He crossed his arms over his chest, which only

showcased his bulky, muscular arms. He returned her

regard with a grim look. Tammy turned her head and

caught Debra nearly mooning over Valiant. She seemed

to have gotten past her initial uncertainty about how to

react to him.

“Tammy?” Sheriff Cooper stepped closer. “You need

to tell us exactly what happened. Have you ever met

those men before? Did they tell you why they kidnapped

you?”

Tammy tried not to wince as Bart and Debra checked

her over and cleaned her wounds. Her face hurt when

they washed away the blood and treated the area near

her ear where her cheek had slammed into the side

mirror of the truck. Her wrists hadn’t hurt much after

Valiant tended to them.

A s the paramedics worked, she slowly told the sheriff

what had happened when she’d left the bar and how the

men had grabbed her but she skipped some parts. She

chose not to mention anything related to the New Species

except to say they’d made comments that made it clear

they hated them. She flat-out lied.

“They said they knew I’d gone to New Species

Reservation.” She tried to stick to some of the truth to

keep her story straight. “They targeted me because I had

worked there and they accused me of being a traitor to

humanity for liking New Species.”

Sheriff Cooper sputtered with anger. “Those assholes

took you because you worked on Reservation one time?

Damn. The entire town is going to be targeted by those

assholes next if that’s all it takes to set them off. Where in

hell are your pants and why are you wearing his

sweater?”

“They…” She dropped her gaze, unable to look at the

sheriff while she spoke, afraid she’d burst into tears if she

did. “They stripped me, held me down and tortured me,”

she got out. She couldn’t look at the man she’d known

most of her life as heat flamed her cheeks. “That’s why

I’m wearing Valiant’s sweater. He and the other New

Species got to me before they seriously injured me but

they stripped me down to my panties.”

“Son of a bitch,” Sheriff Cooper cursed. “Did they

rape you, Tammy?”

She shook her head. “No. One of them wanted to but

the others were happy to settle for just hurting me. They

wanted me to make some video stating I hated New

Species too. They were nuts.”

Sheriff Cooper turned to Valiant and offered his

hand, to shake. “Thank you, Mr. Valiant. The entire town

owes you and your friends a great debt of gratitude for

stopping those bastards from killing her.”

Valiant frowned but he took the Sheriff’s hand. “Don’t

thank me. She’s mine and I will always protect her.”

Tammy winced as she shot Valiant a warning look

and shook her head at him. “Remember our agreement

about how I do all the talking?”

He released the sheriff’s hand and shrugged. “It’s

true.”

Sheriff Cooper looked confused as he spun to face

Tammy. “What does that mean? You’re his?”

She hesitated. “We’re involved.” She left it at that.

“Oh.” The Sheriff’s eyes widened as he jerked his

attention to Valiant first and then back to Tammy, his

gaze ping-ponged back and forth. “I never would have

guessed you two would date. Nope.”

“Miss Shasta!” a woman yelled. “Can you give an

interview?”

Stunned, Tammy turned her head to watch a woman

and a cameraman attempt to shove past one of the

deputies to reach the back of the ambulance.

Sheriff Cooper took a few steps away to yell at his

men. “Shove those reporters back. No comment, you

ambulance chasers. Get them back, Byron and Vince. I

mean it.”

“Why are reporters here?” Tammy wasn’t happy

about the situation at all.

The sheriff uttered another curse word under his

breath. “Some idiot let it get out that a woman had been

kidnapped and that we contacted New Species

kidnapped and that we contacted New Species

Reservation for help. Those nasty newshounds showed

up by the vanloads and our phones at the station are

being bombarded with calls from press from everywhere

in the world.”

“You need to get her out of here,” Tiger informed the

sheriff, walking from the front of the ambulance. “It will

quickly escalate into a media frenzy otherwise. We also

have to leave the scene immediately.”

“Did you catch those men?” Sheriff Cooper faced

Tiger.

Tiger hesitated. “We captured three of them and

transported them by helicopter to Reservation. Didn’t you

hear it? The fourth one is dead but it couldn’t be

avoided.” His pretty catlike gaze met Valiant’s for a few

seconds before he focused back on the sheriff. “They had

weapons and refused to surrender. One of my men has

been shot too but he’ll live. It was just a flesh wound.

We’ll put the dead man on ice until you can arrange to

have him picked up at our medical facility. I gave one of

your deputies a detailed description of where they were

camped out, holding Miss Shasta. It should be easy for

you to find the crime scene.”

“You had a helicopter out there?” The sheriff seemed

surprised. “Where are my prisoners?”

“We will transport them to your station when they are

medically cleared by our doctors, who are treating them

at this moment.” Tiger studied Tammy before he

returned his attention to the sheriff. “They are receiving

medical attention at our facility but you may send

deputies to pick them up if you wish to transfer them that

way. One of the prisoners is in critical condition and as I

stated, one of my men was shot. The helicopter transport

was faster than trying to carry them through the woods

to here. We keep one on standby at Reservation at all

times.” Tiger glanced at Tammy again. “We have

excellent medical facilities if you’d allow me to call the

helicopter back to transport Miss Shasta and allow our

doctors to treat her.”

“They need a real hospital,” Sheriff Cooper replied.

“It’s fine,” Bart the paramedic interrupted softly.

“They have a top-rate facility. A s a matter of fact, we

have used them twice so far in severe, trauma situations.

They have better equipment and skilled trauma doctors,

something our local hospital doesn’t boast. We just don’t

have those kinds of machines. The prisoners are better

off if they were sent there.” Bart gawked at Tiger, looking

intimidated. “We can handle Tammy’s medical needs but

thank you, sir.”

Tiger nodded and addressed the sheriff. “Do you

want to pick up the prisoners when the doctors are done

treating them or do you want us to transport them to

you? We will write full reports and give you a detailed

account of everything that transpired when we reached

their camp. My men and I will be fully at your disposal to

answer any questions you have.”

“I’ll come there,” Sheriff Cooper decided. “Thank you

so much for everything you’ve done tonight and I

appreciate you getting right to the scene when I called.”

Tiger shook his hand. “We’re neighbors and that’s

what neighbors do. We at New Species Reservation

extend our help at any time, Sheriff Cooper. We’re just

glad that we were able to locate Miss Shasta before they’d

seriously harmed or killed her.” He released his hand and

stared at Valiant. “Let’s move it. Rider has been shot but

it’s minor and Justice is expecting us to brief him by

phone immediately when we return.”

Valiant’s expression turned scary and his voice came

out a deep growl. “I will not return unless Tammy comes

with me.”

A n irritated expression twisted Tiger’s features. “You

can’t go with her. Her attackers were members of an

organized hate group. You can bet there will be more

arriving soon if four of them are in this vicinity. More of

their group may already be here. I can’t have you

running around this small town. You’re a target and if

you’re alone it will make you easier prey for them.

There’s the innocent factor too, Valiant. They could hurt

anyone around you if they attempt to kill you and that

includes Miss Shasta. We are under orders from Justice to

return home now.”

Valiant flashed sharp teeth and Tammy saw trouble

brewing instantly. She knew Valiant wasn’t going to leave

her side. “I’ll go with him,” she offered loudly. “I’ll go to

New Species Reservation.” She shoved at Debra’s hands

to halt her from bandaging her wrist and tried to climb

off the gurney.

“Now wait a minute,” Sheriff Cooper sputtered. “I

need to interview you.”

“You can do it at Reservation.” Tammy gave a

pleading look to the sheriff. “I’m scared and I’m staying

with Valiant. Please don’t make a big deal out of this

because I’ve been through enough tonight. Please? You

can interview me all you want but just let me go with

him.”

The sheriff studied Valiant, his gaze roaming the big

New Species before he sighed. “I’d think twice before

trying to tangle with them. I see where you’d feel safer

with him. I’ve seen the setup they have over there and

you’d be better protected behind those patrolled walls

than you’d be inside town. It’s actually a good idea. I

don’t have the manpower to guard you from more

threats or even those damn reporters. I need a statement

soon if you go to Reservation.”

Relief hit her. “Of course.”

Valiant moved before Tammy could stand and lifted

her into the cradle of his arms. Debra grabbed one of the

sheets and moved forward to wrap Tammy’s lap and